Festival attendees packed inside the Knoxville Visitors Center on Thursday afternoon to kick off the event with remarks from Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Big Ears Artistic Director Ashley Capps, a poem reading by Knoxville's Black Atticus, and performances from Big Ears acts Anna and Elizabeth, Béla Fleck and groups from Knoxville’s Joy of Music School and the Community School of the Arts.

The 2018 Big Ears Festival will continue through Sunday at several downtown Knoxville venues and will feature acts including Fleck and Abigail Washburn, composer and sitar player Anoushka Shankar, jazz band Medeski Martin & Wood, and DJ Kid Koala.

The old time musicians band performs as a videographer films during a Big Ears square dance performance in Market Square in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

An attendee listens at Knoxville Poet Black Atticus reads a poem at the kickoff party for Big Ears 2018 at the Knoxville Visitor's Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

A Big Ears sign advertises the festival in Market Square at the kickoff party for Big Ears 2018 at the Knoxville Visitor's Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018. Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel

The Big Ears Festival launched nine years ago, and since then, it has grown to collaborate with local venues, the University of Tennessee, the Knoxville Symphony and Jazz orchestras and others, according to Capps.

“It’s been a remarkable experience in the community, and what people can do when they come together to … achieve a common goal or a set of common goals that work together, and I hope if anything, people leave this weekend inspired about the sheer potential of just what’s possible when we come together,” Capps said.

During the celebration, Capps mentioned that the festival, which was a part of his company, AC Entertainment, is now a 501(c)3 organization. The City of Knoxville signed on as an official sponsor, according to Rogero.

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Knoxville poet Black Atticus reads a poem at the kickoff party for Big Ears 2018 at the Knoxville Visitors Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018.(Photo: Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)

“Originally AC Entertainment, the company than produces Bonnaroo and runs the Tennessee Theatre and the Bijou, it’s my company, and originally, Big Ears was part of that,” Capps said. “We’ve now formed a 501(c)3 because we felt like that organizational structure was what we needed to really realize the potential of what Big Ears is all about.”

Capps said longtime Big Ears attendees have also had the chance, like many Knoxvillians, to see the downtown area expand, adding new restaurants, businesses and events over the years.

“Those of you who have been here several times have over the years seen the city transform itself and … it’s my hometown, and it’s been a remarkable thing to be a part of and to experience, but it’s also a really beautiful thing to share,” said Capps.

Rogero says Big Ears is timely

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Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero speaks at the kickoff party for Big Ears 2018 at the Knoxville Visitors Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018.(Photo: Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)

Big Ears brings people, musicians and artists from all over the world to Knoxville for four days, and Rogero said the event’s timing is fitting.

“So art is supposed to open your mind, right? It’s supposed to make your world bigger, and in this case, your ears bigger and help you see and appreciate different perspectives and different cultures, and it seems like right now in our country, this is something we need more than ever, so that’s why I love Big Ears crowds as much as the artists and the performers,” said Rogero.

East Tennessee and avant-garde collide

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The Clark Brothers perform at the kickoff party for Big Ears 2018 at the Knoxville Visitors Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018.(Photo: Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)

Big Ears has brought avant-garde music to Knoxville for years, but this year, some East Tennessee culture will filter into the festival through its Appalachian Homecoming experience.

“This year there’s a special focus on Appalachian music and culture, so you know, Big Ears started out bringing the avant-garde to East Tennessee, and now it’s bringing East Tennessee to the avant-garde,” said Rogero.

The Appalachian Homecoming will feature several events that are free and open to the public in Market Square including an Eternal Jam on Friday and Saturday, where people can bring their instruments and play together, and a Fiddlers Convention featuring around 30 fiddlers on Saturday.

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Attendees pack inside at the kickoff party for Big Ears 2018 at the Knoxville Visitor's Center in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, March 22, 2018.(Photo: Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel)